International Antarctic Centre

Not a bad place to visit while you’re in Christchurch. This was an above average experience. The wind room, movie and information about the Antarctic was all very interesting even for those who’s already familiar with the area. Truly an experience to enjoy with family or go alone to explore the world of the ice and sea. Definitely book online, student prices seems more fair. One thing I wouldn’t recommend is the guided tour as it’s a flat price of $100 for 2 hours. It was fun and the guide definitely made it more fun and extremely unique. However, other than some facts here and there, it was basically the exact same as the normal tour, which is around $50 if you got a student ID. I suppose you do get to go on those vehicles they actually use to drive through the rough terrain but I’m not sure if that alone is worth the $30-50 price hike. Just go in and explore the center yourself and save your money.

Had a great experience today at the Antarctic center. It was part of a cruise excursion, so unfortunately our time was limited. Would definitely want to come back and delve deeper into it. Great variety of experiences to partake. I learned a lot, and would love to learn more! Great place for families with kids, there's lots of hands on activities. Cindy was our guide, and she was excellent! You felt her excitement about the topic, especially all the inside gossip about the cutie penguins. 😍

Amazing experience! Very informative and lots of fun. The ride in the antartic vehicle was wonderful. 4D movie, lots of exhibitions, huskies you can pet, rescued penguins and winter storm simulator. Not to miss if you’re in Christchurch.

What an excellent experience! Absolutely loved the Hagglund trek thru the different terrains. We got to talk with Heather about all the penguins and their antics. We were there for about 5 hours, went for lunch, great food in the cafe, then back in to see the beautiful huskies, and having Jo talk about his beloved huskies! Highly recommended, very interactive 😍

They have their own parking space. Online booking is cheaper. Better try the hagglund ride if you are eligible and our rider was superfriendly. Therafter you will get to see a 4D movie , video demonstrations , huskies ,an antarctic storm in a freezing chamber and little penguins. Renovations are on the way and hopefully waiting for an upgrade.There is a good cafe with delicious food and toilets at the facility.

Phenomenal! Very informative and I learnt a lot. My ticket included a ride on the Antarctic vehicles which was very fun, the driver Andy was a good driver and ensured we had fun. Saw the rescue penguins in their enclosure and the Huskies in their shelter out front. Take your time and engage in the interactive exhibits!

One of the highlights of our time in Christchurch. Storm room was definitely freezing once the winds were turned up. Lots of educational content about the research bases. Huskies and penguins were pretty cute too, and the Hagglunds were lots of fun to ride on. But the real high point was when we managed to convince Jack & Stan to bring out the seal from deep storage. Definitely drew quite the crowd!

We weren’t expecting much after reading some of the reviews, but honestly, we ended up having a great time! The staff really made the visit – everyone was super friendly and knew so much. Our Hägglund driver, P. Sherpa, was hilarious, and the 10-minute ride over the obstacle course was such a fun way to see what those beasts can do. The simulated storm was a cool experience, most of the rescued penguins were out and about when we went, and the 4D theatre was a blast. We also had a lovely chat with the person looking after the huskies, which just added to it. Maybe it was partly because we went in with low expectations, but we definitely came away having learnt a lot and really enjoyed ourselves. The staff’s warmth and knowledge made it well worth spending a couple of hours there.

The International Antarctic Centre was the highlight of my visit to Christchurch. It's conveniently located right across from the Christchurch International Airport, with plenty of free parking on site. I booked my ticket at a discount through Bookme (similar to Groupon in the USA and Klook in Asia) for $52 NZD (regular price is $74 NZD). The deal required a 9am entry, which actually worked out perfectly since the center was much less crowded. The exhibits offer a great mix of history and hands-on experiences about Antarctic research, clothing, vehicles, and the different international stations. A few interactive highlights are absolutely worth doing: Storm Simulator Room: The room starts at 8°C (46°F), and then powerful fans simulate a blizzard, dropping the temperature to -18°C (0°F). Jackets are provided, so it's cold but manageable--and very fun. Penguin Exhibit: You can watch little blue penguins swimming and playing in their habitat. Husky Dog Encounter: Staff introduce several breeds of huskies historically used in Antarctica that you can also pet. Hägglund Ride: Included with admission, this all-terrain vehicle ride takes you on an outdoor obstacle course over steep hills, uneven angles, and even across a 1-1.5 ft gap to show how the tracks handle extreme terrain. It's a bit bumpy but incredibly fun. There's also free Wi-Fi, a café, and a water fountain located inside the café if you need to refill your bottle. Highly recommend visiting--it's educational, memorable, and one of the best experiences in Christchurch.

The International Antarctic Centre is an absolute must-visit when you're in Christchurch. It's only a couple of minutes druve from the airport, so it's perfect to stop by either as soon as you land or right before you fly out. I'd recommend setting aside around three to four hours to really enjoy everything. I was pleasantly surprised by how large and engaging the exhibits were. There are several activities to choose from, including a ride on the Hägglund: a Swedish made military vehicle actually used in Antarctica. The ride itself lasts about ten minutes and is a lot of fun. You get a better view when seated in the front as there isn't any obstruction but needws to wear ear covers due to the loud engine sound. You can also meet and pet the huskies, if that's your thing. There were three huskies brought out by Joe, theirl handler. Another standout is the snowstorm room, where you can feel what an Antarctic blast is like. They provided shoes cover and light jackets as the temperature got down to negative 18'C. They also show several films, but the highlight for me was the 4D theater experience. Don't sit on the first two rows and you will thank me later :) And of course, the penguins! They have about a dozen of the smallest penguins, all rescues. You can't pet them, but you can get very close, and we happened to catch their feeding and watching them eat squid was adorable. We also ate at the cafe where the chai latte was good but just needed to be hotter. It was room temperature which I dislike. Overall, it's an informative and fascinating center that brings this mysterious continent to life. Christchurch is known as the gateway to Antarctica, and this place truly captures that spirit. Highly recommend!

Like others, i found this place so interesting and worth my time as well as my money. Because it is within walking distance of the small Christchurch airport, I walked over after landing. they will secure your luggage for free at the center. The hagglund ride was more fun than i expected; wish it could have lasted longer and that i could have taken better/more photos, but i was hanging on tightly! the penguins were, of course, cute, but you may have to be patient to catch them out of their homes where they can't be seen. patience was well-rewarded. this is probably the closest i'll ever get to the antarctic; am so glad i spent several hours here. ate lunch, here, too; good food.

My wife and I were here on a 20-day tour, and Antarctic Adventures was the highlight of the entire tour! It was a 20-day tour starting in Australia and ending in NZ. We were here in November. We enjoyed the Adventure very much, as it was totally different. We saw some films on some of the expeditions, and we actually had a simulated ride over snow, ice peaks, etc., on the Hägglund Ride. Quite a different experience. Then, we went into the various rooms, including a Simulation Room where we started at 8C degrees, experienced actual strong cold winds, trampling through snow and ice, etc. Ahh, just a regular day of -18C!! We saw a lot of 3D films, with 3D glasses, where it felt like you were there, and I took a lot of photos there. Unfortunately, due to "No flash" - they did come out slightly blurry. We also had a chance to see 3 Husky dogs up close, see their double fur coats that are keeping them well insulated. Nice to pet them and touch their fur coats, which does shed a bit. They were passive towards the petting and well-behaved, though aloof. We got up close to some of the driving equipment used, as well as an igloo. All in all, a very different experience from anything we've ever done. Their writeup made it seem like we need to have very warm clothing, and I was tripled-layered in shirts plus a jacket. It turns out to be not that bad, and also - they had thick jackets that you can borrow! Slightly over-hyped! All in all, this is a MUST-SEE, and very educational. It is also right next to the airport.

Want to explore Antarctica without actually stepping foot on the continent? Visit the International Antarctic Centre to get an overview of what happens on the frozen land. So easy to get to the International Antarctic Centre with our guide Scotty. Booked a great tour of Christchurch and the International Antarctic Centre from the Shore Excursions Group. Adorable Little Blue Fairy Penguins. Hagglund Field Trip. A blizzard in the Storm Dome....and the cutest huskies! Started with a very bumpy ride on the Hagglund Field Trip. Sit back, buckle up and hold on. Get an idea of what scientists experience on the all terrain amphibious vehicles designed to explore the icy crevasses on Antarctica. Up, down, over and through. The little blue fairy penguins are so cute! Since they usually are out hunting fish during the day, they are hard to find in the wild until they come back in a parade at night. So nice to be able to see the family of tiny penguins that are native to New Zealand who have been rescued due to physical ailments or injuries. Adorable! Brrrrrrrrr..... Feel the chill of an Antarctic Storm up close and personal. Bundle up in a long coat, put on shoe covers and enter the Storm Dome. Every hour, an Antarctic Storm drops the temperature from minus 8 degrees Celsius to minus 18. Amazed at how well the coats provided keep you comfortable. But still, so cold! Explore Antarctica in the galleries. Watch the 4D movie. The 360 gallery had such beautiful images of the continent, penguins and whales. Loved learning about the research that happens with international cooperation and how the scientists prepare to live in Antarctica. Huskies!! Who can resist playing with huskies? So cute and so friendly. My parents especially loved this part. A great way to end the day at the International Antarctic Centre. Support the center with a purchase in the gift shop. They had a sale on two tea towels for $2 NZD. We also grabbed some magnets and beanies for friends and family back home. Thanks also to yelper Andrea who highly recommended this tour.

We got here by 10 when they opened & paid $59 admission that's reduced for children, students, seniors and families. Feeding penguins is at 10:30. There is a large café and gift shop. There were many children with their families enjoying the adventure. We spent 2 hours here but could have entertained ourselves for the day. We started with a video of Antarctica and then we went into a snow storm where it was a nice summer day 15°. We went into an igloo & rode snowmobiles wearing coats & boots. From there we watched the fairy penguins getting fed. We went on a flight simulator to Antarctica & we drove in simulated vehicles on Antarctica. We went into the husky zone with two sweet dogs to pet & post pictures with. We ended with a bumpy fun ride on a Hagglund vehicle. Our photos are perfect & available on line with a gold card that we were given. The museum was very interactive and hands on; just fascinating!

Great place to visit for all ages. Walking distance from the airport so if you have a long enough layover, this is a good place to kill time. Admission prices are fair as long as you plan to see everything they have to offer. Plan to spend around 2-3 hours here to see/experience all of the exhibits. The hagglund rides are included with the admission ticket. There are a lot of interactive exhibits here which I love, such as real live huskies you can pet, a "4D" film, experiencing an Antarctic summer storm, etc. I probably wouldn't have gone if it was just a bunch of reading and photos on walls. There is one section that is heavy on reading, and it would've been nicer to have them more spaced out or better incorporated into the interactive portions. Great as a one-time visit type of place, but probably wouldn't go again.

Honestly, I give this place one star but there are huskies so it gets two more. It's essentially like a tiny Disneyland for Antarctica stuff. I can't see that it's particularly educational, but it is very experiential. The Haaglund ride outside is incredibly bumpy and it is no joke. If you have health issues or injury to your body, this will only make it worse. I am a healthy person and I did not enjoy it at all as it was a violent, bumpy experience. Inside, we did the 4D movie, which was kind of weird because the motion didn't necessarily match the scene, but is better described as a jolt every so often with water thrown in your face. Not necessarily my cup of tea. We also did the snowstorm experience which was really effing ridiculous. It was just really effing cold. Really really cold. It is exactly what I imagined Antarctica to be like - very cold very windy and very dark. I made my way to the exit as there was no need for me to continue to experience that. Honestly this whole thing kind of sucked, but there were a bunch of huskies outside. Even as crummy as I thought the whole experience was, the 10 minutes outside with the dogs made this a five-star experience LOL. The goodest boys. 13/10. Would pet again. The gift shop was my second favorite part...This place might be good for the kids but for adults I think it's a total waste of time. Oh and there are penguins too.

This place was AWESOME!!! Educational: We had no idea that New Zealand was a departure point for Antarctica. There were informative displays about scientific and conservation expeditions to Antarctica. Polar Room: This was a chilled room (about 20 degrees F) with snow and ice. Every hour an antarctic blizzard/storm blows through with 40km/h winds and drops the temperature to -30 degrees F. FUN!!! They provide winter gear (gloves, jackets, etc.) for the experience. And they give you ample warning when the blizzard/storm is coming (there's a giant countdown clock). Penguin display (Little Blue Penguins). Watch them swim, eat and play. Lots of fun to watch. Hagglund ride. Cool, amphibious, all-terrain vehicle used in the Antarctic. We didn't do this while we were there, but should we ever go back, we're doing it for sure.

The International Antarctic Centre is a great place to checkout and spend 2-3hours prior to leaving Christchurch. It's just a 5/10 minute walk from the Christchurch Airport and even has a cute cafe you can eat at rather than eating pricey food at the airport. Cons: Felt it was overpriced since it was $52, especially compared to a much cheaper and full day spent at the Orana Wildlife Park the day before. Next time if I go visit the Antarctic Centre , will definitely opt out of the 4D experience- it reminded me of a cheesy theme park ride gone-wrong with forced water being occasionally sprayed at your face. I remember seeing people trying to dodge the water spray during the movie because it would awkwardly hit you in the face and feel gross... Pros: The Polar Room was cute, it is a chilled room that has an antarctic blizzard/storm simulation that blows 40km/hr wind with temperature drops down to -30F. There's a countdown leading up to the storm simulation. Good photo opportunity before or after the storm simulation since they give you booties and a parka to wear for the blizzard simulation. Kids will have fun checking out the igloo. The two main highlights for me was the Penguin feeding and Hagglund ride. Penguin-feeding: Diane/Diana (I'm sorry I couldn't quite catch your name- I was having a hard time hearing with the kids all excited about penguins) did a fantastic job teaching us about the penguins while making it entertaining. She fed penguins both in the water and on-land to give everyone a different perspective. She was very knowledgeable and was engaging in both feeding the penguins and for the Q&A session! Hagglund Ride: COOL. It's an all-terrain vehicle used in the Antarctic and they take you on a quick demo ride through their outdoor obstacle course. The course kinda reminded me of a monster-truck/motocross course. It was a lot of fun and the driver did a great job keeping teaching us about the vehicle while adding in her funny commentary. If I do go back to the Antarctic Centre, will go on the Hagglund again! Overall, the center was good, but I felt it was overpriced since it was $45 for me at the student price/ $59 for adults. But that said, if you have 2-3 hours to kill before leaving Christchurch Airport and you have kids, I'd recommend checking out the Antarctic Center.

This was pricey but thoroughly enjoyable! It was really interesting to learn about Antarctic expeditions, especially with the headquarters of the expeditions located in buildings all around the museum. The museum is full of information and interactive exhibits. The Hagglund ride was excellent and surprising! The winter storm was entertaining. The penguins were fun to watch, and the feeder was friendly and full of information. I did think 4D movie was a bit much for me, but I don't usually like these. I would definitely recommend the visit!

Must visit when you come to Christchurch, and have done so on a couple of occasions. The front admissions staff are very helpful & try and assist you with timing of viewing certain attractions so you can see as much as possible. I'm not a big person when it comes to museums and knowledge based attractions, so I normally get through these sorts of places fairly quickly. Visiting the penguin exhibition is very informative and you have to admit, they are cute & extremely cheeky. The 4D movie, along with the snow storm & ride out the back is pretty cool. But now comes the most important: the must do here is a backstage pass to the penguins. You get to learn much more about the penguins, the way they look after them at this centre and get to see them REAL up close. Take my advice and pay the extra. You might be better off to book this in advance, especially around peak times and weekend visits.

Loved it! Cheesy parts- yes, school kids loud and obnoxious-barely supervised but still loved it.

Get a coupon before you come. 2 for 1 may make it a little more realistically priced for the adventure. It was interesting and the ride in the hagglund was fun, but it is pricey.

Nice place to hang out with kids. The ride on the Antarctic truck was awesome. The recreation of the snow storm was great. Enjoyed the three hours here

This place is a real treat. Admission is fair, and the exhibits are great for people of all ages. My favourite exhibits were the Antarctic storm simulator, which included an ice slide to play on...and the ride in the hagglund ride, which takes place just outside the centre on a track. The museum is also at the site(s) of the Kiwi and U.S. Antarctic prep bases, so you can do a bit of wandering around the outside of these buildings and see some scientists walk around. It's a fun visit to this museum, and I h highly recommend it.

The coolest museum in the world. Literally. Located within a working Antarctic campus. This was a fun 2-hour visit. The polar room simulates Antarctic weather. Stuff yourself in the proffered parka and gloves and step into what is essentially a giant souped up freezer. Try the ice slide but climb the ice steps with care. I slipped trying to sit down at the top of the slide. Arms and legs askew, I slid before I was quite ready and my slide didn't earn me any style points. For less cold hardy guests, the polar room has a large picture window. This enables people-watching in comfort and the ability to laugh at your hapless friends floundering in the "blizzard." The Hagglund, all-terrain amphibious vehicle, reminded me of a cross between a tank (the caterpillar treads) and a hummer (the boxy cab with lots of serious knobs and dials). The ride was fun but on the day we visited, there was more mud than snow on the obstacle course. The track was like a monster truck or motocross course with hilly mounds of earth. Make sure to get to the meeting point and check in early for your ride. Rides are timed and your Hagglund may depart without you.

My family had a wonderful Antarctic experience here. We donned the ski jackets provided and felt the cold and wind that the centre simulated for the visitors. Interesting facts and information on Antarctica and expeditions can be found here as well as live specimens of the wildlife living near the South Pole (e.g. dogs, penguins). Would recommend this place to anyone visiting Christchurch.

We had a great time at this place. This place is very well thought out and designed. There's several fun experiences here such as the penguin feeding, the 4D show, the antarctic storm simulation etc. We enjoyed our half-day visit to the antarctic centre and would recommend it to people who are visiting the Christchurch area.

Other than the Hagglund ride and the blue penguins, the IAC was wholly disappointing. Granted, my expectations were quite high since I had previously been blown away by the Canterbury Museum's Antarctic exhibit and figured that an institution specifically dedicated to the explorations of the icy continent would surpass it. I was wrong. The IAC is definitely kid-friendly and tailored to grade school field trips, meaning it is light on the history/info and focused more on the "wow" factor. The "ice storm" was pretty silly -- yes, you are asked to don an overcoat and overshoes and enter the equivalent of a large refrigerator, but it's not like the experience was worth the trip or entry fee. The 4-D Antarctic cruise movie was like a bad DisneyWorld ride from the late 1990's with cheesy water spray special effects that seemed forced. For tourists looking at guidebooks and trying to get "the most" out of a day or two in Christchurch, this is one attraction that can be skipped unless you have kids under 10 that need a distraction.

Another one I've neglecting reviewing for awhile! This is a must stop when you visit Christchurch. Seriously, you have no excuse as its right next to the airport! Everything you could ever want to learn about Antarctica and Christchurch's role in the expeditions there in the past and today. You realize how far south you and close you are to Antarctica when in Christchurch as well. Super educational, but also fun. There's live penguins to see and even a room where you can put on parkas and experience the freezing temperatures you would encounter. A bit pricey, but worth the money and time. Great for kids and grown ups! I've been several times over the years.

Good for kids and travellers looking to kill time. There's not a huge amount to The Antarctic Centre and the content certainly never changes but it's great to take kids and an awesome place to check out if you're just visiting Christchurch. The penguins are cool and the haglund ride isn't too bad. It's a little overpriced but if it makes the kids smile it can't be all that bad!